Start of the Cathar Trail - GR®367

From the Mediterranean Sea to the foothills of the Corbières.

The circular route I suggest mainly follows the Cathar Trail, from the start in Port-la-Nouvelle to Roquefort-des-Corbières and back.

This hike can be completed in two days: see practical information.

Details

n°2605

Creation:
16 Feb 2012

Last update:
20 Jan 2023

Last review:
04 May 2026

Activity: Walking
Distance: 20.89 mi
Average duration: 11h 00
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,621 ft
Descent: - 1,611 ft
Highest point: 830 ft
Lowest point: 3 ft

Country: France
City: Port-la-Nouvelle (11210)
Start/End: N 43.0196° / E 3.047681°
IGN map(s): Ref. 2546OT, 2547OT
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Description of the walk

Start from Port-la-Nouvelle, Rue Blériot, following the Signposting for the Cathar Trail.
Accessible by TER.

(S/E) Leave the town heading towards the roundabout on Route de La Palme.

(1) At the first roundabout, turn right and continue to the next one.

(2) Cross the D709, leaving a path on your right that leads back to Port-La-Nouvelle.

(3) Head up towards Garrigue Haute, which is the wind farm plateau.

(4) Ignore a path branching off to the right, then another branching off to the left.

(5) Follow the path to the wind turbines in about 1 hour. You’ll reach a crossroads beneath the wind turbines.

(6) Go straight on until you reach the Fork in the road just ahead.

(7) Continue straight on again.
Continue along the path towards Roquefort-des-Corbières, following the recent trail markings.

(8) After the Cabane du Pas du Loup, go straight on.

(9) The path turns right at a 90° angle and descends along the limestone cliff to join the small road that passes under the A9.

(10) Follow this road, go under the motorway and continue straight on.

(11) At the first junction, turn left towards the village of Roquefort-des-Corbières and cross through it. Continue along the Cathar Trail on the tarmac road.

(12) At the end of the tarmac road and at the start of the climb, turn left. Head into the pine woodland (yellow markings). Climb through the woodland until you reach a crossroads.

(13). Turn right and continue into the Combe de Bouc.

(14) At the crossroads, turn left towards the Cabane de Chante Perdrix, where you can take a break.

(15) Follow the Sentier Cathare trail until the descent into the vineyard in the Combe de la Clotte.

(16) At the junction of the paths before the vineyard, turn right and head towards the Pla des Courbines plateau.
Follow the path to a junction. Turn right and continue for a few dozen metres along the marked trail.

(17) At the fork in the road, turn right, heading north, towards the Grès de la Ginestelle. The path is wide and suitable for vehicles.
Follow the path, ignoring the side paths branching off to the left and right

(18) Return to the tarmac road through the vineyards to Roquefort-des-Corbières.

(12) Cross the village again, this time on the left.

(11) Continue in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you pass under the A9.

(10) Just after the underpass, turn left and cross the Rieu stream.

(19) Follow the stream along the old route of the Cathar Trail to reach the Ancient Gulf Trail.

(20) Turn right and head back up towards the wind turbine plateau.

(7) Once you reach the wind turbines, go straight on until you reach the junction just after them.

(6) Turn left, walk under the blades, and follow the path to a gate.

(21) You are now overlooking Port-la-Nouvelle. Follow the track, going straight on at every junction.

(4) At the junction with the outward route, turn left and head back to the starting point (S/E) by passing under the D709 and via the roundabout on Route de la Palme.

Waypoints

S/E : mi 0 - alt. 7 ft - Port-la-Nouvelle, Rue Blériot - Gare de Port-la-Nouvelle
1 : mi 0.48 - alt. 7 ft - Roundabout
2 : mi 1.02 - alt. 10 ft - Roundabout on Route de la Palme
3 : mi 1.17 - alt. 56 ft - Common junction (out and return)
4 : mi 1.4 - alt. 197 ft - Crossroads of the first circular loop
5 : mi 2.74 - alt. 289 ft - Cathar Trail. Towards the wind turbines
6 : mi 3.6 - alt. 374 ft - Crossroads on the first circular loop, beneath the wind turbines
7 : mi 3.7 - alt. 351 ft - Crossroads: the first circular loop
8 : mi 4.63 - alt. 318 ft - Pas du Loup hut
9 : mi 4.94 - alt. 351 ft - Cathar Trail, on the right
10 : mi 5.68 - alt. 115 ft - Common junction. Return route: Roquefort-des-Corbières
11 : mi 6.44 - alt. 151 ft - Crossroads of the Roquefort-des-Corbières circular loop
12 : mi 7.47 - alt. 246 ft - Crossroads of the Pla des Courbines circular loop
13 : mi 7.7 - alt. 246 ft - Cathar Trail, on the right
14 : mi 8.39 - alt. 315 ft - Junction with the Chemin de Chante Perdrix.
15 : mi 8.87 - alt. 495 ft - Cathar Trail junction
16 : mi 9.2 - alt. 509 ft - Intersection at the Combe de la Clotte vineyards
17 : mi 10.66 - alt. 817 ft - Plat des Courbines junction
18 : mi 12.66 - alt. 282 ft - Back on the tarmac road.
19 : mi 15.31 - alt. 102 ft - Crossing the Rieu Stream
20 : mi 16.84 - alt. 66 ft - Junction with the Golfe Antique trail
21 : mi 18.19 - alt. 417 ft - Barrier
S/E : mi 20.89 - alt. 7 ft - Port-la-Nouvelle, Rue Blériot - Gare de Port-la-Nouvelle

Notes

In Roquefort-des-Corbières: water points at the junction with the main street, as well as in the square opposite the church, and finally at the sports ground.
Bear in mind that the wind can be strong in gusts. Take a good windbreaker; if it’s too windy, don’t go.
Water: you will not be able to refill your water bottles between Port la Nouvelle and Roquefort.
This hike was completed at a steady pace. Plan for breaks.

Worth a visit

Follow the Cathar Trail, the^GR®367, which starts in Port-la-Nouvelle in the Aude and leads to Foix in Ariège, passing by the Cathar castles of Queribus, Peyrepertuse and Montségur – to name the best known.
The first stage connects Port-la-Nouvelle to Durban Corbières and is estimated at 30 km.
Visit the military markers at Combe de la Clotte as you walk through the vineyards.
In Roquefort-des-Corbières: the Raouca Traoucada or Roche Trouée.
Pic du Pied du Poul refuge. You can spend the night there before heading back down the next day

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5

Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4 / 5

Ease of following the route
4 / 5

Route interest
4.2 / 5

m111

04 May 2026 at 07:48 7200

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

3 May 2026
Starting from Roquefort, we didn’t think we’d go as far as Port la Nouvelle.
When we reached point 16... an underpass, then a ford, followed by a ‘private road’ sign and a barrier with barbed wire, mesh fencing and a privacy screen, so we turned back. As the stream was full, we didn’t try crossing over the stones...
We then reached the wind turbines and all the local flora via a short circular path -> the Cathar path for horses and the one for pedestrians. With the GPX track and the map, no problems. It would be good if the route’s author could check the passage at this point (16).
Thanks anyway to the author

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m111

04 May 2026 at 07:45 7200

3 May 2026
Starting from Roquefort, we didn’t think we’d go as far as Port la Nouvelle.
When we reached point 16... an underpass, then a ford, followed by a ‘private road’ sign and a barrier with barbed wire, mesh fencing and a privacy screen, so we turned back. As the stream was full, we didn’t try crossing over the stones...
We then reached the wind turbines and all the local flora via a short circular route -> the Cathar path for horses and the one for pedestrians. With the GPX track and the map, no problems. It would be good if the route’s author could check the passage at this point.
Thanks anyway to the creator

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Bibichoux88

23 Nov 2020 at 10:17 3600

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We started the walk from marker 2, where there is a small car park (the previous section wasn’t particularly interesting, as the town was almost deserted at that time of year (October)).
We only did the first circular loop, stopping at marker 6 and then taking the return section between markers 20 and 2.
Be careful, however: most of the wind turbines (5 in total) at marker 20 have been dismantled, so we missed the junction to turn left at marker 20, but we found our way back a little further down by following the high-voltage power lines.
All in all, a pleasant walk that offers a change from the usual ‘all-nature’ experience, with sections passing at the foot of the wind turbines.

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entropiek

14 Sep 2019 at 22:42 7200 • Edited: 14 Sep 2019 at 22:42 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

I think the walk could easily start from point 2 (there’s a small car park) instead of setting off from the centre of Port-la-Nouvelle. That avoids having to walk through the whole rather unattractive/industrial area. And it has the advantage of shortening the route; I didn’t have time to do the whole thing, so I turned back at point 15. The presence of numerous fig trees between points 6 and 15 was much appreciated!

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Jeannot M 66

02 Jul 2018 at 10:38 7200

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The route isn’t particularly interesting; the start isn’t clearly signposted, so I set off from the large roundabout.
The signposting leaves a lot to be desired; fortunately, the wind turbines serve as landmarks. There aren’t many directional signs, and the yellow, red and white markings on the ground are only visible up to the wind turbines – after that, it’s a bit of a gamble.
On the way back, as you pass under the N9 main road, it says to turn left immediately; you end up in the reeds, you have to go fifty metres, and then it’s a bit of a climb with no further signposting – the wind turbines are your only guide.
On the way back, there’s a lovely view of the beaches at Port-la-Nouvelle.

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b-attitude11

27 Feb 2018 at 11:09 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk winding its way through limestone rocks and heath. The milestone markers are well worth seeing. It’s a shame we couldn’t see the hollowed-out rock because of a wild boar drive. The hunters were, however, very courteous. A big shout-out to the local council for the excellent signposting.